Coal-loading machine



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COAL LOADING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1927 9 Sheets-*Sheet 8 April 1, 1930. A. c. wlLcox 4 COAL LOADING MACHINE FiledJunefe, 1927 9 sheets-sheet '9 Patented pr. `l., 1930 PATENT OFFICE ALBERT C. WILCOX, OF BRIDGEPORT, OHIO COAL-LOADIN Gr MACHINE Application led .Tune 6, 1927. Serial No. 196,790.

My invention relates to loading machines, and has particular reference to improvements in machines which are especially adapted for gathering coal from the fioor of a mine and transferring it to cars for transportation from the mine.

In the mining of coal it is the common practice to break the coal from its natural bed by blasting fragments from the face of the vein, the broken coal, in fragments of irregular size and shape, being left in heaps on the floor of the mine adjacent to the working face of the vein and thereafter being loaded onto cars for transportation from the mine.

I am aware that machines have been provided heretofore to gather coal from the floor of a mine and to transfer it to cars for removal from the mine, but due to the irregular size and shape of the fragments into which the coal is broken by the blasts, to the irregular surface of the floor and to the restricted space, especially vertically, in which such machines must operate, many diiiculties have been experienced in their operation. It is my purpose therefore to provide a machine by means of which coal may expeditiously be gathered from the floor of a mine and delivered into cars placed adjacent to the machine, my improvements consisting particularly of a Ina- 3 chine which is of minimum height-no higher than the usual mine cars used for transporting coal in a mine, which is capable of gathering coal at various points near the machine while the mainbody portion of the machine occupies a single position adjacent to a heap of coal to be gathered, which will not clog due to irregularities in the size and shape of the lumps of coal being gathered, which includes its own powerfor all of its necessary movements, and which is strong, durable and thoroughly reliable and eilicientin operation.

lVith the foregoing and other purposes in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in thel appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a loading machine embodying the novel and essential features of my invention, same being shown mounted on track rails for transportation along same to different localities;

Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section through the machine;

Fig. 3, a top plan view;

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the truck portion of themachine resting on the track rails and the gathering conveyorportion of the machine resting on the floor of a mine in position to gather coal;

Fig. 5, a central longitudinal section on a slightly enlarged scale through a portion of `the machine showing the delivery conv( jor moved to its inoperative position with respect to the gathering conveyor;

Fig. 6, a top plan view showing the truck portion of the machine resting on the track rails and the gathering conveyor resting on the floor of a mine and moved to an angular position with respect to the truck portion Fig. 7, a longitudinal section on a slightly enlarged scale on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8, a longitudinal section on a slightly enlarged scale on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9, a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10, a horizontal section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a horizontal section on an enlarged scale on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12, a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of the gathering -conveyor portion of the machine; I

Fig. 13, a transverse section on an enlarged scale on the line 13-13 of Fig. 1; y

Fig. 14, a transverse section on an enlarged scale on the line 14--14 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 15, a longitudinal section through one of the gathering devices;

Fig. 16. a horizontal section on the line 16-16 ofFig. 15;

Fig. 17. a bottom plan view of the rotatable housing of one of the gathering devices;

Fig. 18, a perspective of one of the ren ciprocal gathering fingers; and' F ig. 19, a perspective of one of the worm wheels for driving the gathering devices.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that my improved machine is composed of an inclined gathering conveyor designated generally at 10, a carriage designated generally at 11, a truck designated generally at 12 and a delivery conveyor designated generally at 13, carriage 11 being mounted upon truck 12 for rotation with respect thereto in a horizontal plane, gathering conveyor 10 being pivoted at one end to carriage 11 for swinging movement in vertical planes and delivery conveyor 13 being mounted upon truck 12 for substantial telescoping movement with respect to the gathering conveyor.

Truck l2 consists of a relatively heavy plate 14 of substantially rectangular shape, mounted in any suitable manner on flanged wheels 15 whereby it is adapted to travel on ordinary mine-car track rails 16. This plate is provided centrally thereof with a circular opening of relatively large diameter surrounded by a circular flange 17 rising from the top face of the plate. In addition, said plate has rising therefrom, near its rear edge, a pair of spaced standards 18, 18 forming a support for the delivery conveyor 13 as will hereinafter appear.

Carriage 11 consists of a relatively heavy plate 19 recessed in its under face to snugly receive the flange 17 of plate 14, whereby plate 19 may rest upon plate 14 and be rotated with respect thereto, said plate 19, like plate 14, preferably being provided with a central circular opening so that an electric motor 20, constituting the motive power for the machine, may be mounted on plate 19 by means of brackets 21 as shown with its lower portion extending through and below the plates 14, 19. i

Rising from plate 19, near the sides thereof, respectively, are two pairs of plates 22, 22 and 23, 23, the plates of each pair being spaced with respect to one another. Also rising from said late 19, are two bearing blocks 24 and 25, t e former of which is disposed between the plates 22, 22 and the latter of which is disposed between the plates 23, 23. In addition, two other plates 26 and 27 are secured to the two sides respectively of plate 19 and rise4 from said plate in spaced relation respectivel to the two outer plates 22 and 23, cover members 28 and 29 secured to plates 26 and 27 serving to close the spaces between plates 26, 22 and 27, 23 respectively.

A horizontal shaft 30 which extends transversely of the machine is journaled for rotation in the bearing blocks 24, 25, the ends of said shaft being engaged with the plates 26, 27, whereby it is held against longitudinal movement. Fixed to this shaft is a worm wheel 31 with which meshes a worm 32 mounted on the armature 'shaft of motor 20,

whereby said shaft 30 is rotated at all times when motor 20 is in operation. Keyed or otherwise non-rotatably, slidably mounted on 'shaft 30 are four bevel gears 33, 34, 35 and 36, the first two of which are shiftable in unison along said shaft by means of a pair of shift arms 38, 38 fixed to a reciprocal rod 39 suitably mounted parallel and adjacent to shaft 30, and the latter two of which likewise are shiftable in unison along said shaft by means of a second pair of shift arms 40, 40 fixed to a second lreciprocal rod 41 also mounted in any suitable manner parallel and adjacent to shaft 30, the means for shifting rod 39 consisting of a lever 42 pivoted at one end to a lug projecting from plate 27 and pivotally connected intermediately with onel end of rod 39, while the means for shifting rod 41 consists similarly of a lever 43 pivoted at one end to a lug projecting froxn'plate 27 and pivoted intermediately with one end of rod 41, both levers 42 and 43 being disposed at the same side of the machine within reach of an operator in a seat 44 carried by an arm 45 secured to and extending laterally from plate 19 as shown. l

A second shaft 46 disposed above and parallel to shaft 30 is journaled for rotation in the plates 22, 23, 26 and 27 and has loosely mounted thereon two bevel gears 47 and 48, the former being disposed between the plates 22, 22 and the latter between-the plates 23--23 Between the plates 22,'22 is mounted a short vertical shaft 49 the lower end of which is journaled in block 24 and the upper end of which is journaled in a block 50 mounted on shaft 46., Fixed to this shaft 49 is a pair of bevelgears 51, 52 the former of which remains constantly in mesh with gear 47 while the latter is adapted to be engaged by either of the gears 33 or 34 through manipulation of lever 42 as is apparent.

Between the plates 23, 23 is mounted a short vertical shaft 53 the lower end of which is journaled in block 25 and the .upper end of which is journaled in a block 54 mounted on shaft 46. Fixed to this shaft 53 is a pair of bevel gears. 54, 55 the former of which remains constantly in mesh with gear 48 while the latter is adapted to be engaged by either of they gears 35 or 36,through manipulation of lever 43.

A sprocket wheel 56 is fixed to one end of shaft 30 and a second sprocket wheel 57 is loosel mounted on one end of shaft 46, these sproc et wheels having trained thereover a sprocket chain 58 whereby rotation may be imparted by shaft 30 to shaft 46, a suitable clutch being provided whereby rotation of shaft 46 may be effected at will.

The clutch referredv to may be of any well known or preferred type, same consisting in this instance of a collar 59 fixed to shaft 46 at one side of sprocket wheel 57 and a hand wheel 60 threaded on said shaft to the other side of said sprocket wheel. By this arrangement loosening of hand wheel 60 will permit sprocket wheel 57 to notate freely on shaft 46,

v while tightening of hand wheel 60 will clamp sprocket wheel 57 against collar 59, so that rotation of said sprocket wheel will result in rotation of said shaft.

Gathering conveyor 10 is composed of two main parts; viz, a Wheeled member 61, which will hereafter be referred to as a scoop, and a platform member 62 constituting a link connection between said scoop and the carriage 11, whereby the scoop may be mounted upon the tracks for movement therealong or run olf of the tracks onto the floor of a mine while the truck 12 and the carriage 11 carried thereby remain on the tracks.

Scoop 61 consists of a pair of frame members or housings 63, 64 of inverted U-shape in cross section, spaced apart and connected together by a platform 65, inclined upwardly from the forward end of the scoop towards' the rear end thereof. Member 62 likewise consists of a air of frame members or housings 66, 67 o inverted U-shape in cross section, spaced apart the same distance as members 63, 64 and connected together by a platform 68. The rear ends of housings 66, 67 are interfitted with the plates 22, 22 and 23, 23 respectively, and are pivotally connected with carriage 11 for vertical swinging movement through the instrumentality of shaft 46, while the forward ends of said housings are interfitted with the rear ends of the housings 63, 64, respectively, of scoop 61 and are pivotally connected therewith for vertical swinging movement through the instrumentality of a pair of short shafts 69, 70, respectively.

The forward end of platform 68 abuts the rear end of platform 65 substantially in alinement with shafts 69, 70 whereby the scoop 61 and member 62 are permitted to pivot vertically with respect to one another and whereby a substantially continuous platform extends from the front of the scoop to the rear end of the member 62. 4

On shaft 69 is mounted a bevel gear 71 and a spur pinion 72, while on shaft 70 is mounted a bevel gear 73 and a spur pinion 74. Extending longitudinally of and journaled for rotation in suitable bearings 75 within housing 66 is a shaft 76 having lixed thereto at its rear end a bevel gear 77 which remains constantly in mesh with bevel gear 47, said shaft, at its forward end, having fixed thereto a bevel gear 78 which remains constantly in mesh with bevel gear 71,. Extending longitudinally of and journaled for rotation in suitable bearings 79 within housing 67 is a shaft 80 having fixed thereto at its rear end a bevel gear-81 which remains constantly in mesh with bevel gear 48, this shaft, at its forward end, having fixed thereto a bevel gear 82 which vremains constantly in mesh with bevel gear 73.

Extending transversely across scoop 61 near the forward end thereof and journaled for rotation in suitable bearings carried by the housings 63, 64 of said scoop, is a shaft 83 having fixed thereto, between the side walls of housing 63, a worm 84 with a right hand pitch, andbetween the walls of housing 64 having fixed thereto a worm 85 with a left hand pitch. Also fixed to said shaft between the housings 63, 64 is a pair of sprocket wheels 86, 86 which are alined, respectively, longitudinally of the machine, with a pair of sprocket wheels 87, 87 fixed to shaft 46, each pair 86, 87, of said sprocket wheels having trained thereover a sprocket chain 88 the upper reach of which travels along the tops which travels beneath said platforms, this being due, of course, to the fact that the shafts 46, 83 are located in alinement with the platforms 68, 65, respectively. The chains 88 are disposed, respectively, adjacent to the inner walls of the housings 63, 66 and 64, 67 and are connected together by cross bars 89 of any suitable type whereby an endless conveyor is provided for moving coal from t'he forward end of the machine over the upwardly inclined platforms 65, 68 to the rear end of the machine, said conveyor being set in motion when hand wheel 60 is tightened to lock sprocketwheel 57 to shaft 46 and remaining idle when hand wheel 60 is loosened, as is manifest.

The forward ends of the housings 63, 64 of scoop 61 are bifurcated as indicated in the drawings to receive, respectively, rotatable under-cutting and gathering elements 90, 91. These elements are duplicates of one another and therefore only one of them will be described in detail. It consists of a relatively flat conically-shaped housing 92 centrally recessed in its under face as indicated at 93 and provided with a diametrically extending slot 94 of somewhat greater depth than recess 93 opening'into the latter and extending entirely across the housing and opening also through opposite portions of the inclined side face of the latter. A cover plate 95, detachably secured to the under face of the housing, serves normally to close the lower open portions 0f the recess 93 and slot 94. Slidably mounted in slot 94 for reciprocal movement with respect to housing 92 is a cutting and gathering bar 96 of somewhat greater length than the will lie flush with and form an even continuation of the outer surface of the housing 92.

' Furthermore, said bar has formed centrally thereof a relatively wide, transversely extending, elongated slot 97 and a relatively narrow, longitudinally extending slot 9,8.

Element 90 is mounted for rotation upon a shaft 99 rigidly secured at its upper end in any suitable manner, as by means of a set screw 100, to the upper arm formed by the bifurcation of the forward end of housing 63, said shaft extending through the housing 92, through the slot 98 of bar 96 and through the cover plate 95 of said element and below sai-d cover plate having rotatably mounted thereon a worm wheel 101 which takes bearing in a portion of housing 63 and which has a squared upper end 102 engaging a similarly shaped opening in the cover plate, or is otherwise non-rotatably connected with said plate, so that housing 92 is rotatable therewith. This worm wheel is in mesh with worm 81 on shaft 83, so that rotation of said shaft rotates element 90 as is apparent.

Formed on or fixed to shaft 99 is an eccentric disk 102 which is disposed within the slot 9T of bar 96, so that as the housing 92 rotates, said bar is caused to reciprocate with respect thereto, lirst one beveled end andthen the other of said bar being cause-d to be projected outwardly from the housing.

Element 91 is mounted for rotation on a shaft 103 secured in the same manner to housing 6l as shaft 99 is secured to housing 63, said shaft 103 having a worm wheel 104 rotatably mounted thereon and non-rotatably connected with the cover plate 95 of said element 91 whereby the latter is rotatable with said worm wheel. Saidworm wheel 104 is disposed in mesh with 'worm 85 and is adapted to be driven thereby to rotate element 91, while the shaft 103 of said element is provided with an eccentric disk the same as disk 102 of shaft 99 whereby the bar 96 of said element 91 is reciprocated during rotation of said element.

Thus, in view of the foregoing, it is apparent that the elements 90, 91 are rotated by means of the right and left hand worms 84, 85 in opposite directions whenever the conveyor formed by the chains and cross bars 88-89 is in operation, and in this connection it is pointed out that the eccentric disks on the shafts 99, 193 preferably are so arranged that the bar 96 of each element 90, 91 will be projected its maximum distance forwardly of its housing 92 when said bar is disposed longitudinally with respect to themachineso that only a relatively narrow space need be provided between the housingsl of said elements and the walls of the bifurcated portions of the forward ends of the housings 63, 64 whereby clogging of said elements 90, 91 is prevented.

tion of rotation of each element 90, 91 is such that the bar 96 thereof will sweep coal from a heap into which the forward end of the machine is projected towards the conveyor provided by the chains and cross bars 88-89, and in this connection it is to be observedsee Figs. 2 and 12-that the housings 63, 64: are connected together by a platform 105, separate from platform 65, over which the bars 96 sweep to direct the coal onto the platform 65, said platform 105 having its forward end extending substantially to the forward edges of the elements 90, 91 and having its upper face disposed substantially in alinement with the lower faces of the bars 96 whereby clogging of coal between said bars and said platform section is prevented.

It is also to be noted in respect to the elements 90, 91 that the shafts 99. 103 on which they are mounted are inclined whereby the housings 92 operate in planes having substantially the same inclination as the inclination of the platform 65. y

As is apparent, by rotatably adjusting the eccentric disks 102 which produce reciprocation of the bars 96 the latter may be caused to operate either alternately with respect to one another or in unison to sweep coal onto platform 105.

J ournaled in the side walls of the housings of said shaft 106 housings 63 and 64 have journaled in the side walls thereof short transverse shafts 108, 109, respectively, carrying flanged wheels 110 adapted to support the forward end portion of the scoop on said rails 16.

Fixed to shaft 106 adjacent to the inner face of the outer wall of housing 64 is a spur pinion 111 and between this pinion and pinion 74 is an idler pinion 112 journaledon a stub shaft suitably secured to the outer wall of said housing 64. Thus, whenever bevel gear 73 and spur pinion 71 are rotated, rotation is imparted through spur pinions 112 and 111 to shaft 106 and through the latter to the wheels 107 with the result that the entire machine will be moved along the track rails 16.

One or more sprocket wheels 113 are mount-- ed on shaft 106 between the side wallsof each housing 63 and 64 and a companion sprocket wheel or wheels 114 are mounted on each shaft 108, 109, said sprocket wheels 113. 114 having trained thereover endless sprocket chains 115 the lower reaches of which project slightly below the bottom of scoop 6l to provide endless treads effective to propel the machine forwardly or rearwardly when the wheels 10T. 110 are oli" of the rails 16 and the scoop is supported by saidchains 115 which then are resting on the ground.

Also journaled in the side walls of the housings 63, 64 near the rear ends thereof is a horizontal shaft 116 which extends entirely across the scoop 61 and has fixed thereto adjacent to the inner face of' the.outer wall of housing63 a spur pinion 117. An idler pinion 118 journaled on a stub shaft suitably secured to the outer wall of housing 63 operatively connects pinion 117 with pinion 72 and thus, whenever bevel gear 71 and spur pinion 72 are rotated, rotation is imparted through idler pinion 118 and pinion 117 to shaft 116.

Shaft 116 has fixed thereto. between the side walls of housing 63, a Worm 119, and between the side walls of housing 64 a worm 120, said worms being in driving engagement, respectively, with worm wheels 121, 122 fixed, respectively, to a pair of shafts 123 and 124.

Shaft 123 is disposed within housing 63 and extends longitudinally thereof, being journaled for rotation in suitable bearings carried by said housing, while shaft 124 in similar manner extends longitudinally of and is journaled for rotation within housing 64.

Fixed to shaft 123 is one or more segmental members 123 while fixed to shaft 124 is one or more segmental members 125, said members being of such radius that when, during rotation of the shafts 123, 124, they extend downwardly from said shaftstheir lower surfaces extend somewhat below the lower faces of the lower reaches of the chains 115. Thus it is apparent that if the scoop 61 is resting on its endless treads provided by the chains 115 and shafts 123, 124 are rotated, the members 123', 125 upon coming in contact with the ground will, upon each revolution of the shafts 123, 124, lift the scoop 61 and move it bodily a short distance in a lateral direction, either to the right or left according to the direction of -rotation of shaft 116, carriage 11 pivoting horizontally about truck 12 to permit such movement.

The upper ends of the standards 18, 18 carry channeled plates 126which support the delivery conveyor 13. said conveyor including a trough 127 of U-shape in cross section having longitudinally extending flanges 128 projecting from the sides thereof and received in the channels of the plates 126 whereby said trough is -supported by said plates for sliding movement between its extended or operative position shown in Figures 1. 2. 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings and its substantially -telescoped or inoperative position as shown in Fig. 5.

Rack teeth 129 are provided along the under face of trough 127 and a pinion 130. fixed to a shaft 131 journaled for rotation in the standards 18, 18. is in mesh with said rack teeth whereby rotation of said shaft is effective to slide said trough to either its operative or inoperative position.` On one end of shaft 131 is fixed a spur gear 132 and meshing with this gear is a pinion 133 provided with a handle 134 whereby it may easily be rotated to effect rotation of shaft 131 with consequent sliding movement of the trough 127.

When the trough is moved to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 6 its flanges 128 enter channeled plates 135 carried by and depending from the platform member 62 whereby itis supported in its inoperative position beneath the platform 68 of member 62.

At its forward end trough 127 has a circular hopper formation 136 which is disposed below and infcoal receiving relation to the rear end of platform 68 when the trough is in its extended position, said trough further being provided at its forward end with a transverse shaft 137 carrying sprocket wheels 138, and at its rear end with a transverse shaft 139 carrying sprocket wheels 140. A small electric motor 141, mounted on the trough 127, is connected in any suitable manner with shaft 139 for driving same, and sprocket chains 142 trained over the sprocket wheels 138, 140 and connected together by cross bars 143 constitute an endless conveyor for moving coal deposited in hopper 136 along the trough to the rear thereof where it is adapted to fall into a car mounted on the tracks 16 beneath the rear end of said trough.

The o eration of my machine is apparent and as ollowsz- Assuming the machine to be resting on the track rails 16 as shown in Fig. 1 with both the gears 33, 34 out of mesh with gear 52 and both gears 35, 36 out of mesh with gear 55 and with hand wheel 6() loosened, it is apparent that regardless of whether o r not mptor 20 is in operation the machine will remain idle. If, now, assuming motor 20 to bein operation, it is desired to move the machme forwardly, the operator on seat 44 merely grasps lever 43 and pulls same outward a sufiicient distance to bring gear 35 into mesh With gear 55, whereupon gear 54 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in plan, resulting in rotation of gear 48. As gear 48 rotates the gearing comprised by gear 81, shaft 80, gear 82. gear 73, spur gear 74, idler spur gear 112 and spur gear 111 is set in motion resulting in rotation of shaft 106 and its flanged wheels 107 in a direction to move the machine forward as is apparent. To stop the machine, lever 43 merely is pushed inward a sufficient distance to disengage gear 35 from gear lf, on the other hand. it is desired to move the machine rearward. the operator merely grasps lever 43 and pushes same inward a suflicient distance to bring gear 36 into mesh with gear 55 which obviously reverses the direction of rotation of gear 54 and of the other gearing just enuiueratml with resultant rearward movement of' the machine. lhus the machine as au entirety is capable of being moved read.-

lBO

Athescoop 61`to the right or to the left.

ily under its own power to any desired position along the tracks 16.

To position the machine to load coal onto a car located on the rails 16 behind the Inachine, the latter is simply moved forward along the rails until scoop 61 runs off the ends of the rails as shown in Fig. 4, said scoop then resting on its endless tread chains 115 and being movable forward or rearward along the ground by means of said tractor chains in the same manner it is movable along the rails 16 by the wheels 107, since the tractor chains are geared to shaft 106 and move with the wheels 107.

It is understood, of course, that the rails 16 terminate adjacent to the heap of coal to be loaded, and when, by forward movement of the machine` its forward end has been pushed into the heap of coal, lever 43 first is returned to its neutral position to bring bot-h gears 35, 36 out of mesh with gear 55 and hand wheel 60 then is tightened to cause the conveyor chains 88 and the elements 90, 91 to be set in motion. As the elements 90, 91 rotate one end of each bar 96 is gradually projected from housing 92 until it reaches its limit of outer movement when substantially in longitudinal alinement with the machine, the other end of cach bar in the meantime having swept over platform 105 and during its movement thereover having been gradually retracted into its housing 90. Thus said bars 96 serve not only to undercut the heap of coal. but to sweep same onto platform 105 and over the latter onto platform 65 where it is engaged by the cross bars 89 of the conveyor chains 83 and moved upwardly along said inclined platforms 65. 68 to the rear end of the latter where it falls onto the hopper 136 of trough 127 which has previously, by means of the handle 134, been projected from its position shown in Fig. 5 to its position shown in Fig. 1. Motor 141 is set in operation simultaneously with lor immediately after tightening of wheel 60, so that coal delivered into hopper 136 is moved by the'conveyor constituted by the chains 142 and bars 143 upwardly and rearwardly along the inclined trough 127 to the rear endof the latter Where it falls into a waiting car on thc tracks 16.

After ,all available coal has been gathered with the machine in the position shown in Fig. 3, and beforethe machine again is moved forwardly tofmove its forward end deeper into the heap being loaded, it is desirable that the coal to the sides of the machine lirstl be loaded and to this end the operator grasps levei"42 and either pushes or pulls same depending upon whethcr he desires to swing lt lever 42 ispushed, gear 34 will be brought intomesh with gear 52 and rotation then Awill be. imparted, through gears 5l. 47, 77. shall 76, gears 78, 71, 7:2, 118 and 11,7 to shaft 116 which, through worms 119, 120 and worm wheels 121, 122 will produce rotation of shafts 123, 124 and their segmental members 123', 125 in a clockwise direction looking forwardly of the machine, with the result that said segmental 111embers'123, 125 coming into` Contact with the ground will swing the scoop 61 step by step to the right to bring its forward end in gathering relation to a right hand portion of the heap of coal to be loaded. If, on the other hand, it is desired to swing the scoop to the left, lever 42 is pulled which will bring gear 33 into mesh with gear 52 and accordingly reverse the direction of rotation of shafts 121, 122, the carriage 11 pivot ing about truck 12 to permit lateral swinging movement of the scoop 61 either to the right or left as is apparent.

By properly manipulating the levers 42, 43 it is obvious that the scoop 61 may be moved successivel forward and to the right and left so thattie entire heap of coal to a given depth and within the lateral limits defined by the limits of lateral swinging movement of the scoop may be gathered while the truck 12 remains in a single position on thc rails 16, the machine being gradually moved forward until the wheels of the truck approach the ends of the rails when new rails are laid permitting it to operate in a more advanced position.

1. A loading machine comprising a wheeled truck, a carriage mounted on said truck for rotation in a horizontal plane, a' wheeled scoop. a pivotal connection between said scoop and said carriage permitting said scoop to be moved vertically so as to'rest either on the ground or with its wheels on track rails, tractor means carried by said scoop for moving the machine forwardly and rearwardly when the scoop is resting on the groun'd, and means for operating said tractor means.

2. A loading machine-comprising a truck, a gathering conveyor mechanism connected to said truck for vertical and lateral swinging movements, and a delivery conveyor mechanism having a single position in receiving relation to said gathering conveyor mechanism in all positions of the latter with respect to said truck, said delivery conveyor mechanism being mounted ou said truck for sliding movement to an inoperatit'c position beneath aportion of said gathering conveyor mechamsm.

3. ln a loading machine, a scoop` an endless conveyor for moving material from said scoop. a rotatable gathering element carried by said scoop, a bar carried by and rotatable with said gathering clement adapted to undercut and sweep material onto said scoop. and means to produce reoiproration of said bar during rotation of said gathering element. i

lill) connected to said scoop, and an endless conveyor traversing said scoop and, said platform member.

5. In a loading machine, a truck, a carriage mounted on said truck for rotation in a horizontal plane, a scoop connected to said carriage for verticalmovement with respect thereto, means carried by said scoop effective to move the machine as an entirety forwardly and rearwardly, a motor carried by said carriage, and a drivin,f ,rconnection between said motor and said means. n

6. In a'loading machine, a truck, a gathering conveyor mechanism connected to said truck for lateral swinging movement with respect thereto, and a delivery conveyor mechanism carried by said truck movable to an inoperative position below a portion of said gatherin'g'conveyor mechanism Aand to an operative position in which it is in receiving relation to said gathering conveyor mechanism in any laterally swung position of the latter.

7. In a loading machine, a scoop provided with wheels whereby it is adapted to traverse track rails, a tractor mechanism carried by said scoop and extending longitudinally thereof slightly below the wheels thereof whereby said scoop may be moved forwardly and rearwardly over the ground, a rotatable shaft carried by and extending longitudinal? ly of said scoop, and a segmental member carried by said shaft, said member in one position of rotation of said shaft extending below Said .tractor mechanism whereby it is effective to move the scoop laterally. v

8. In a loading machine, a truck,a carriage mounted on said truck for rotation in a horizontal plane, a scoop inclusive of upstanding sides and a platform therebetween, a link connection between said carriage and saidv scoop inclusive of a member having upstanding sides and a platform therebetween, a rotatable shaft carried by said scoop, a rotatable shaft carried by said carriage, an endless conveyor operating about said shafts, a pair of rotatable gathering elements carried by said scoop, and connections between said rst mentioned shaft and said gathering elements whereby the latter are rotated in opposite a carriage mounted on said truck for rota-l tion in a horizontal plane, a scoop, a platform I member constituting a link pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at its other end pivotally connected to said scoop,

' 4a rotatable shaft at the rear end of said latform member, a rotatable shaft at the orward end of said scoop, sprocket wheels on said shafts, chains trained over said sprocket wheels, bars' connecting said chains, to rovide an endless conveyor, a motor carrie by said carriage, a driving connection between said mo'tor and said first mentioned shaft, a pair of rotatable gathering elements carried by said scoop, drivmg connections between said gathering. elements and said second mentioned shaft, means carried by said scoop for movin the machine forwardly and rearwardly, aiving connection between said means and said motor, means carried by said scoop for swinging the same laterally, and a driving connection between said last named means and said motor.

10. In a loading machine, a truck, a carriage mounted on said ruck for rotation in a horizontal plane, a scoop, a platform member constitutlng a link pivotally connected at one end to said carriage and at its other end pivotally connected to said scoop,- gathering means carried by said scoop, and a conveyor traversing said platform member.'

11. In a lloading machine, a truck, a car- 1 riage mounted on said truck for rotation in a horizontal plane, a scoop, a platform member constituting a link pivotally connected at one endto said carriage and at its other end pivotally connected to said scoop, gathering means carried by said scoop, a conveyor trav.- ersing said platform member, wheels carried by said scoop for supporting same on track rails, and-tractor means extending below said wheels to supportsaid scoop. on the ground when the scoop is moved off of track rails.

12. A loading machine includin a conveyor, a` gathering mechanism inc uding a bar ,mounted for linear riempi-ocation, andl means to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate said bar to cause both ends'thereof to alternately penetratea pile of materialand then travel laterally and rearwardly to en gage and move the material onto the conveyor.

13. In a loading machine, a scoop, a conveyor 'for moving materialxfrom said scoop,

- a gathering element including a housing carried by said scoop, a shaft 4disposed at an angle to the horizontal and o n which said housing is rotatable, an eccentric disk'carried by said shaft, and a bar for undercutting and sweeping material onto said scoop slidably mounted in said housing and having a slot receiving said eccentric disk whereby rotation of said housing reciprocates said bar.

In testimony whereof-I hereunto aliiX my signature.

ALBERT C. WILCOX. 

